Wollerton Old Hall Garden
Wollerton, near Hodnet, Market Drayton, Shropshire
A four-acre garden of formal rooms and generous planting around the Grade II* listed Old Hall at Wollerton, near Hodnet in north Shropshire, much admired by keen plant lovers.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Wollerton Old Hall Garden?
Wollerton Old Hall Garden is a plantsman's garden: a series of formal spaces, each with its own character, filled with abundant planting. At around four acres it is compact enough to see properly in one visit, yet there is so much packed into each area that most garden lovers take it slowly. The garden surrounds the Old Hall, a Grade II* listed building in the small village of Wollerton.
The appeal here is the balance of strong structure and loose, full planting. Hedges, paths and walls divide the garden into rooms, and within them the planting is layered and generous, in the tradition of the great English gardens. As you walk round, notice how views are framed from one room to the next, how repeated plants tie separate spaces together, and how height is built up with climbers and tall perennials. These are ideas that scale down well to a much smaller plot.
Opening arrangements for privately run gardens can change from year to year, so check the official listing before you travel. The village is quiet and has few amenities now that its pub has closed, so plan any stops for food in advance. Wollerton is in the same parish as Hodnet Hall Gardens, and the two make a good pairing for a day of garden visiting in north Shropshire.
What to see
- A sequence of formal garden rooms divided by hedges, walls and paths.
- Layered, generous planting within a strong formal framework.
- Framed views leading from one garden room into the next.
- The Grade II* listed Old Hall at the centre of the garden.
- Ideas for smaller gardens, such as repeated plants and climbers used to tie spaces together.
Wollerton Old Hall Garden through the year
- spring
- Bulbs and early perennials start to fill the garden rooms, and the hedged structure looks crisp and clear.
- summer
- This is when the garden is at its fullest, with the layered perennial planting at its peak.
- autumn
- Late perennials carry colour into autumn and seed heads add texture to the borders.
- winter
- The garden is not usually a winter visit; check the official listing for current season dates.
The story behind the garden
Wollerton has a long history. Recorded in 1086 as Ulvreton, from the Saxon for Wulfrun's farm, the manor was held by Askell before the Norman Conquest and by Roger de Montgomery afterwards. In the 16th century it was held by John Gratewood, whose wife was a sister of Sir Rowland Hill of Soulton; their daughter Alice married Reginald Corbet, and a monument to the couple survives in the church at Stoke on Tern.
The Old Hall is a Grade II* listed building, and the garden around it was made by its owners, John and Lesley Jenkins, from the 1980s. It has grown into a four-acre garden of formal rooms with rich, layered planting. The village once had its own railway halt on the Wellington and Drayton Railway, until the line was dismantled in 1970.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Keen gardeners and plant lovers who enjoy formal garden rooms filled with rich perennial planting.
- Getting there
- Wollerton is a small village in the parish of Hodnet, about three miles south-west of Market Drayton, on the old A53 beside the Hodnet bypass.
- Before you go
- There are few facilities in the village itself, so plan food and fuel stops in Market Drayton or Hodnet. Check the garden's official website or its Historic Houses listing for current opening times and tickets.
Source: Wikipedia: Wollerton
Questions about visiting Wollerton Old Hall Garden
Where is Wollerton Old Hall Garden?
It is in the village of Wollerton, in the parish of Hodnet in north Shropshire, about three miles south-west of Market Drayton. The village sits on the old A53, next to the Hodnet bypass.
How big is Wollerton Old Hall Garden?
The garden covers about four acres. That is small enough to see in a single visit, but the planting is dense, so many visitors spend longer than they expect looking closely at each area.
When is the best time to visit Wollerton Old Hall Garden?
Summer is usually best, when the perennial planting in the garden rooms is at its fullest. Check the official listing for the current season dates before you travel, as opening can vary.
What is near Wollerton Old Hall?
Hodnet Hall Gardens is in the same parish, a short drive away, so the two can be visited on the same day. Market Drayton is the nearest town for food and other facilities.
Garden features
Location
Wollerton, near Hodnet, Market Drayton, Shropshire
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